UNSW Sydney has been recognised as one of the nation's top domestic patent filers in the latest Australian Intellectual Property Report.
UNSW is Australia's fifth-ranked organisation for domestic innovation protections, with 22 new inventions on the way to becoming accessible products and solutions for Australians.
The national ranking was revealed by IP Australia , with the release of annual patents and trademark data this week.
UNSW's filed patents span diverse fields, targeting some of the world's most pressing challenges, including:
- quantum and semiconductor sensing
- clean fuel injection systems
- advanced AI-based hazard detection
- recyclable materials for solar energy
- DNA diagnostics for health and environment.
UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise, Professor Bronwyn Fox, said UNSW was Australia's leading university for transforming research into promising and successful businesses .
"This recognition highlights the incredible depth and breadth of innovation at UNSW," Prof. Fox said.
"Our researchers are not only pushing the boundaries of science and technology, they're also creating practical solutions that address global challenges and power Australia's future industries.
"Protecting and commercialising this innovation is key to ensuring our ideas deliver real-world impact."
The ranking cements UNSW's role in driving practical solutions for industry growth and innovation, turning research into technologies that serve both national priorities and global markets.
Our researchers are not only pushing the boundaries of science and technology, they're also creating practical solutions that address global challenges and power Australia's future industries.
Tackling society's biggest challenges
UNSW's national phase patents were developed within the faculties of Engineering and Science.
- 16 patents originated from the Faculty of Engineering, including the Schools of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering and the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE)
- 6 patents originated from the Faculty of Science, covering the Schools of Materials Science & Engineering, Chemistry and Physics
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Industry and Innovation, Professor Stephen Rodda, said UNSW's strong patent performance reflected a commitment to pioneering research.
"We work closely with industry partners to translate research into technologies and solutions that drive economic growth, create jobs and tackle some of society's biggest challenges. This recognition highlights the vital role UNSW plays in Australia's innovation ecosystem."
UNSW innovation success stories
One recent standout success story is the UNSW spinout Ubiqut , born from a patented technology with the potential to make quantum sensing affordable and scalable.
This innovation, protected by a UNSW-filed national phase patent, uses materials to create ultra-sensitive magnetic field sensors. The technology is low cost, easier to manufacture and scalable for high-volume applications.
The company has attracted first-round investor funding and strategic interest from industries like mining and defence, where precise magnetic field sensing is critical.
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Dane McCamey, said the project would develop a field deployable prototype for tactical sensing in challenging areas.
"We're working on the quantum control hardware, electronics and software needed to deploy this device in the field while keeping costs low."
What is a patent and why are they important?
A patent is a temporary legal protection that gives an inventor the exclusive right to commercially use their invention. To qualify for a standard patent, an invention must be new, useful, and demonstrate an inventive step, meaning it's not an obvious improvement on existing technology or knowledge.
Patents prevent others from copying or profiting from an inventor's ideas without permission. A protected invention is more attractive for investors and companies to fund its development. UNSW prioritises protecting the work from researchers and students by taking out patents.
